National Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association

Since 1959, the National Football Foundation has annually recognized the best and the brightest college players, presenting them with prestigious NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards. Currently an $18,000 scholarship for post-graduate education, each award is presented at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in conjunction with the College Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in New York City. On average 15 awards are presented each year, and accepting the honor has always proven to be a highly inspiring moment for each recipient.

“Recipients of these awards have used their scholarships to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, businessmen, and leaders in their communities,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “And many of our honorees, who confronted with the financial hurdles of continuing their education, have stated that it has been the NFF Scholar-Athlete Award that made the difference in their career choices. Creating the NFF Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association allows them to remain active members of this exclusive club.”

The NFF founders believed in the power of an organization that would provide a collective voice for the promotion of amateur football while highlighting the game’s long-term ability to produce tomorrow’s leaders. The spirit of college football and the NFF’s mission of Building Leaders Through Football is embodied in the National Scholar-Athlete Awards. Launched in 2008, the NFF Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association adds to this collective voice, providing a powerful vehicle for past honorees to remain in the vanguard of the NFF’s present efforts.

Reconnecting with this signature program, many past scholar-athletes have stepped forward to give back and support future generations by becoming members of the 2011 NFF Scholar-Athlete Alumni Association, including: